Comments on: Is there such a thing as a Working Dad?

By: Working Dads Want Work-Life Balance - Working Moms Not Alone - UK EHRC Report — ModernMami™.com

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:44:16 +0000

[...] something most men and women probably already knew. I know that my husband struggles with being a working dad just as much as I do with being a working mom. Of course he wants to spend more time with baby [...]

By: Melanie (Modern Mami)

Melanie (Modern Mami) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 17:22:36 +0000

Miggy, you bring up very good points. I know that many times the moms do more than the dads, regardless of the work situation.

By: Miggy

Miggy — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:26:42 +0000

When I was married my ex-husband lost his job and for awhile was at home, however, unlike a mom he resented the time with his children. I am not sure if its because of society, culture, how we were created or a combination of all three. It can definitely get frustrating when a WOHM- like me- tends to do more then a WOHD (Am I getting these abbreviations right? New to this!). Sometimes I think that we lost so much with our feminist advancement. We added more to our workloads and in doing so accepted less from our mates. Where is the line? Latina On a Mission

By: Melanie (Modern Mami)

Melanie (Modern Mami) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 11:37:26 +0000

Thanks for stopping by Swami! Sorry to hear about the lay off.

By: SwamiMami

SwamiMami — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 02:32:17 +0000

I think about this one often…
As a working mom who is in transition (thanks to lay off)… what the heck am I called? Visiting your post from Scholastic Vote for Moms Blogs!

By: Melanie (Modern Mami)

Melanie (Modern Mami) — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:46:52 +0000

Mary, thanks for your thoughts. I think you’re on the right track…

By: Mary Lutz

Mary Lutz — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 21:48:27 +0000

I think the difference lies in our makeup as men and women. Men were created to be the providers in the home. It’s always been “natural” for the dad to work outside the home while mom stays home with the kids. But, with the sexual revolution and WWI, women started working outside the home more, but are still expected to take care of the household duties and be the main caregivers to the children. I think that’s why there really hasn’t been a term coined as “working dad”. He’s just dad and he provides for him family by working.
On the flip side of the guilt that mom’s feel when they try to balance work (whether at home or outside of the home) and taking care of their home and family, they often feel guilty because it is more “natural” for women to be the caregivers of the homes, while dad’s often feel guilty when they aren’t working. I think all of this is changing, but that innate, inborn instinct for men to provide for their families and for women to take care of the house and home will always be there, and there will always be some guilt feelings when we aren’t doing what we were created to do.

By: Melanie (Modern Mami)

Melanie (Modern Mami) — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 13:32:01 +0000

Vicky: There sure are a lot of different roles that moms/dads play!

By: Vicky Shaw

Vicky Shaw — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 14:15:42 +0000

Well what about the SAHD’s Stay At Home Dad’s? I meet a lot of them. Or all us Home School Mom’s, and Home School Dad’s? Now that one is really hard because some are single or they work at home or outside the home and still manage to Home School the kids. Matter of fact the kids are so well schooled they get some of the highest test scores out there. All because of the dedication of that Home School Mom or Home School Dad.

By: Melanie (Modern Mami)

Melanie (Modern Mami) — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 02:53:04 +0000

Alicia: I agree. I just wish we could let go of *some* of that guilt/complex.

Jai: Well some companies do provide paid family leave regardless of being the dad or mom. And there’s also the Family Leave Act, but that doesn’t guarantee pay. My husband was off for 1 week after our daughter was born; unfortunately he couldn’t take off longer.

We should get the husbands to stop by and comment.